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Ever think you might want to write a book? Lots of people do, and every November some of them team up try to accomplish their goal. It’s called NANOWRIMO, and in the video below Scott Evans tells you about some teens who are participating.

Think you’ve got what it takes? Whether you’re trying to write a book, a two-page essay or a looming monster term paper, we’ve gathered lots of awesome advice to help you. Take the quick quiz below so you can get what you need to know fast, and get back to that paper you’re procrastinating on. (Nah, we’re not psychic. We’ve just been there.)

How to Write a Great Paper

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Question 1 of 10

1. Question

Every good paper starts with good research.

Fact

Fiction

Correct 1 / 1 Points

Before you do any research, you’ve got to know the point you’re trying to make. Are you supposed to explain something? Compare and contrast two things? Look at the effects of something or someone? Get your topic sentence nailed down first and then you can start researching.

Incorrect / 1 Points

Before you do any research, you’ve got to know the point you’re trying to make. Are you supposed to explain something? Compare and contrast two things? Look at the effects of something or someone? Get your topic sentence nailed down first and then you can start researching.

Question 2 of 10

2. Question

Getting a friend to help you pick your paper topic is cheating.

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Fiction

Correct 1 / 1 Points

Go ahead and brainstorm with your friends. You have a better chance of coming up with an idea you’re actually excited about. Really! Plus, if you’re bummed or stressed about the assignment, chances are someone else is, too. You’ll both feel better if you know you’re not alone.

Incorrect / 1 Points

Go ahead and brainstorm with your friends. You have a better chance of coming up with an idea you’re actually excited about. Really! Plus, if you’re bummed or stressed about the assignment, chances are someone else is, too. You’ll both feel better if you know you’re not alone.

Question 3 of 10

3. Question

Every good paper needs an outline.

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Fiction

Correct 1 / 1 Points

It doesn’t have to be a fancy outline complete with Roman numerals (unless that was part of the assignment), but all papers need structure. For a one-page paper it could be as simple as: 1. Introduction: Here’s what I will tell you. 2. Body: This is me telling you. 3. Conclusion: Here’s what I just told you.

Incorrect / 1 Points

It doesn’t have to be a fancy outline complete with Roman numerals (unless that was part of the assignment), but all papers need structure. For a one-page paper it could be as simple as: 1. Introduction: Here’s what I will tell you. 2. Body: This is me telling you. 3. Conclusion: Here’s what I just told you.

Question 4 of 10

4. Question

There’s no magic bullet for dealing with writer’s block. You just have to power through it.

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Fiction

Correct 1 / 1 Points

There are lots of strategies for dealing with writer’s block — just identify the cause. Bored? See if you can tweak the topic to be more interesting to you. Anxious? Take five deep breaths, stretch and repeat, “I can do this,” every time you think you can’t. Perfectionist? Write something, anything. You can change it later.

Incorrect / 1 Points

There are lots of strategies for dealing with writer’s block — just identify the cause. Bored? See if you can tweak the topic to be more interesting to you. Anxious? Take five deep breaths, stretch and repeat, “I can do this,” every time you think you can’t. Perfectionist? Write something, anything. You can change it later.

Question 5 of 10

5. Question

Starting sentences in a research paper with, “I think,” is a bad idea.

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Fiction

Correct 1 / 1 Points

Of course it’s what you think. You wrote it. So skip the first-person voice in a research paper. Cut out “I think,” “I believe,” and, “I found out,” and you’ll be left with stronger writing.

Incorrect / 1 Points

Of course it’s what you think. You wrote it. So skip the first-person voice in a research paper. Cut out “I think,” “I believe,” and, “I found out,” and you’ll be left with stronger writing.

Question 6 of 10

6. Question

Writing an extra page can totally score you extra credit.

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Fiction

Correct 1 / 1 Points

Sorry, no. Unlike bank accounts, bigger is not better. You shouldn’t try to cram in random facts. Only include stuff that relates to your topic and stick to the length you were given when you got the assignment. (It goes without saying that you’ll get a lower grade if you don’t write enough.)

Incorrect / 1 Points

Sorry, no. Unlike bank accounts, bigger is not better. You shouldn’t try to cram in random facts. Only include stuff that relates to your topic and stick to the length you were given when you got the assignment. (It goes without saying that you’ll get a lower grade if you don’t write enough.)

Question 7 of 10

7. Question

Making the font bigger to fill space won’t fool anyone.

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Fiction

Correct 1 / 1 Points

Believe it or not, computers have been around for a long time and your teachers know how they work. Neither making the margins bigger nor changing the spacing will transform a three-page paper into a legit five-page one. Double-spaced, 12-point, Times New Roman font is what you should use.

Incorrect / 1 Points

Believe it or not, computers have been around for a long time and your teachers know how they work. Neither making the margins bigger nor changing the spacing will transform a three-page paper into a legit five-page one. Double-spaced, 12-point, Times New Roman font is what you should use.

Question 8 of 10

8. Question

You must include every single one of the books you used for research in your bibliography.

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Fiction

Correct 1 / 1 Points

Tricky, huh? You don’t have to include encyclopedia articles. The idea is that anything in the encyclopedia is considered common knowledge, even if it’s totally new to you. That said, you’ve got to cite just about everything else. Ask your teacher for specifics.

Incorrect / 1 Points

Tricky, huh? You don’t have to include encyclopedia articles. The idea is that anything in the encyclopedia is considered common knowledge, even if it’s totally new to you. That said, you’ve got to cite just about everything else. Ask your teacher for specifics.

Question 9 of 10

9. Question

It’s never OK to hand in a paper you got off the Internet — unless you paid for it.

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Fiction

Correct 1 / 1 Points

Paid for or not, this is cheating. Better to hand in a paper you wrote with mistakes in it than turn in plagiarized work. That’ll get you flunked, or worse, suspended.

Incorrect / 1 Points

Paid for or not, this is cheating. Better to hand in a paper you wrote with mistakes in it than turn in plagiarized work. That’ll get you flunked, or worse, suspended.

Question 10 of 10

10. Question

Rely on the computer’s spellcheck tool. It’s your first and best line of defense against pesky spelling and grammar mistakes.

Fact

Fiction

Correct 1 / 1 Points

It might be the first, but it’s certainly not the best way to make sure you don’t make mistakes. There’s a lot that it won’t catch (like the difference between your and you’re). Instead, spell check, then read it out loud, and finally, have someone who’s good at this sort of thing read over your work.

Incorrect / 1 Points

It might be the first, but it’s certainly not the best way to make sure you don’t make mistakes. There’s a lot that it won’t catch (like the difference between your and you’re). Instead, spell check, then read it out loud, and finally, have someone who’s good at this sort of thing read over your work.

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